TBO-TECH

Whoah! Woman! It’s time to celebrate Women’s Self-Empowerment Week, which runs from January 5 to 11. Although being empowered should be encouraged the whole year through, this is one good way to remind those who are being too busy to do so.

And how else could you better celebrate this moment than giving yourself the gift of safety learn self defense lessons! There are many ways you could get into it, you can introduce yourself to self defense lessons via this video from Just Yell Fire. And advance your education learning more self defense moves by watching more videos or taking self defense classes.

You can check out the new gym that does not only keep you in shape but also lets you learn self defense; there’s one in El Paso called “Fighter Physique”.

There is also a women’s self defense training for Elkhart, Indiana residents – Resist Aggression Defensively for Women on February 23.

If you want more varieties of self defense and fitness training programs, check out this list: a Fitness Calendar, which includes a free self-defense intro, Tae Kwon Do for kids to adults, and Body Combat, which is actually an aerobic program combining moves from a variety of self-defense disciplines.

Another Health Calendar, that you should take note of which gives you a choice of Tai Chi for Self Defense and other fitness programs.

Have a safe and fun Women’s Self-Empowerment Week!

You have already watched countless Martial Arts lessons in CD’s. You have your tools and gadgets handy. But do you really know what to do and how to execute the moves when you need them the most? Do you know when to fight or flight? If your response is “Ummm, not really”, you are in big trouble. Why not go to self defense trainings then? Don’t know where to find groups offering these trainings? Learn how to choose the best self defense lesson for you first.

To be able to make an informed decision in selecting a training course for you, it’s important that you know what you need and want to gain from a lesson. There are those who’d like to master these methods for fitness purposes, not only physically but also psychologically. Some would want to learn to better protect themselves. Some would want to join competitions instead.

In finding self defense lessons to join, schools can be a great help. Schools in the vicinity of your neighbourhood would be good sources of these trainings. Ask for flyers, brochures or simply meet with the instructors to get more information about the offerings. Before saying yes and paying anything, don’t forget to ask for recommendations so you can have more options. Another factor that should help you decide in choosing lessons is whether the school or training offers safety equipment or facilities. You can also scour the web for more information about current self defense courses or trainings available. Here are some of the upcoming self defense trainings that might be near your place:

Self Defense Seminar at Lamy’s Black Belt Academy, 183 Elm St., Milford, Nov. 22, from 1-3 p.m.

Self Defense for Women with Brynda Ivan, second-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do, brown belt in Kajukenpo karate, Dec. 8, 6:30 to 8 p.m.; at The Summa Wellness Institute

martial arts videos images

Self-defense courses for students are fast becoming an expected element in college curricula and rightfully so. No matter how safe your neighborhood is, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t learn extra skills that let you defend yourself adequately in cases of emergency.

The US News website tells us how students of Temple University in North Philadelphia, especially female ones, are eager to take the self-defense courses offered every semester, which is equivalent to two credits but requires students to obtain the instructor’s permission prior to enrolling.

In the University of Pittsburgh, the self-defense lessons offered are based on the Buy Yourself a Minute or BYAM method, which was developed by Officer Curtis Smith. The course is open to both male and female students and is designed to teach students not just how to get out of dangerous situations but how to avoid them in the first place. The lessons are considerably tough, requiring students to perform the correct action in simulated shootings and purse snatchings.

The reason for offering such courses varies. Although some are offered as a direct response to the level of crime prevalent in a given area, some, which is true in the case of Temple University according to its instructor Michelle Harmon, are simply given to empower women “in their general pursuit for their life skills”.

And for those doubting the value of taking self-defense lessons, a report from News4jax.com may convince them otherwise. The website recently featured an incident in Clay County, Florida wherein a 55-year-old mom was able to sufficiently protect herself from a potentially dangerous situation and all thanks to the self-defense classes she were taking from the local church.

Terry Thompson stands 5-foot-2, has three children, and is no different from ordinary mothers except for one thing: she had been taking Tae-Kwon-Do classes for about a year. It took root from her early interest in martial arts and was eventually realized with her desire to learn self-defense and gain self-confidence. Thompson believed that her age placed her at greater risk and took the class to make her less vulnerable. She hadn’t imagined, however, that there would actually be a time when she would put her self-defense lessons to use.

Indeed, it was after one of those classes at night that she was approached by a would-be mugger in the parking lot of Middleburg First Baptist. The man had first asked if she had money, to which she replied in the negative. When the man attempted to snatch her purse, Thompson had responded with a side-kick and a punch; it was enough to make the man run away empty-handed.

image credits to thebearmaiden